Theodore A. Barten, PE (Chair):
Ted is a co-founder and Managing Principal of Epsilon Associates, Inc, a 45 person environmental engineering and consulting firm based in Maynard, MA.  An environmental engineer by training, Ted’s consulting practice is focused on site selection, environmental analysis, licensing, and permitting for a wide array of major energy and infrastructure projects.  Ted spent the first 12 years of his career with United Engineers & Constructors, a leading designer and builder of utility power projects.  In 1986, he joined HMM Associates in Concord, MA, where he was responsible for building a respected energy facilities permitting practice.  Ted became President of HMM in 1989, helping to grow the firm to 160 people.  Following the 1994 acquisition of HMM by Earth Tech, Ted was Executive Vice President responsible for the Earth Tech’s multi-office 700 person commercial consulting operation. 

In 1997, Ted and six senior colleagues from the former HMM Associates co-founded Epsilon Associates, now a highly regarded regional consulting firm.  Epsilon has twice been a finalist in the Boston Business Journal’s Best Places to Work competition.  The firm is also a recipient of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award.

Ted is an environmental engineering graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and earned his MBA at Northeastern University.  He is Registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts and seven other states.  Ted served on the Board of Directors of Earth Tech, a publicly traded company.  He has also served on the New England Council and was on the Board of the Northeast Energy and Commerce Association for many years.  Ted and his wife, Iris, live in Bolton, MA.

Herbert Taylor (President):
Rev. Herbert B. Taylor is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Deaconess Abundant Life Communities (Deaconess).  Rev. Taylor has a Bachelor of Science degree from Bates College (magna cum laude) and an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master’s of Divinity from Boston University (summa cum laude).  His business experience is in management consulting where he worked for Arthur D. Little, Inc., in Cambridge, MA.  While at Arthur D. Little, Inc., he became a Senior Consultant involved in strategic planning, organizational development, merger and acquisition advice, and marketing direction for major U.S. and multinational corporations.  As a pastor his most recent appointment was at the Wilmington United Methodist Church in Wilmington, MA.  This church grew by 300 in average attendance during the seven years Rev. Taylor served as its pastor. Rev. Taylor chaired the Visioning Task Force for the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church to develop a vision for ministry for its 600 churches and a plan for implementation.  He has also taught Pastoral Leadership at Boston University.  During the last fifteen years, Herb has led mission trips to Puerto Rico, Mexico, Peru, Haiti, Kentucky, New York City and Maine.    Rev. Taylor is the President of MassAging and an active member of Rotary Club of Concord.

Susan E. Powers R.N.M.S. (Vice Chair):
Sue is a resident of Winchester, MA., and with her husband Steve, have three married daughters and 6 grandchildren.  She is an active member of the Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church. Sue received a diploma from Children’s Hospital School of Nursing in Boston, A B.S. from St. Joseph’s College in Maine, and a M.S. from U. Mass. Lowell and has worked at Children’s Hospital, Winchester Hospital,Wakefield Regional Vocational School and in a private physician’s practice. Presently she is the Associate Director of the Winchester Hospital Community Health Institute which provides health promotion and disease prevention programs as well as an alternative therapy program. She is past president of Winton Club which is a volunteer service organization that runs the hospital gift shop and donates all fund raising monies to Winchester Hospital.

Robert S. Cummings (Treasurer):
Bob received his undergraduate degree from Brown University/Tufts University and an LL.B. from Harvard University. He was a Managing Partner of Nixon & Peabody and the Chairman of the firm’s Executive Committee. Bob served in the United States Army Counterintelligence Corps, is a former Chairman of the Reading Board of Selectmen and currently Chairman of the Reading Commissioners of Trusts’ Funds. He is former chairman and currently a member of the board of Trustees for Hallmark Healthcare, a former member of Edison Electric Institute Legal Committee, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Director and Treasurer of the World Society for the Protection of Animals, and Secretary and member of the board of Directors of Massbank.

William A. Zoppo (Clerk):
Bill has over thirty years experience in a broad range of construction and real estate activities including: construction management, construction cost estimating, real estate development, financial feasibility, lease negotiation and property management. He is President of S.S.Z. Corporation in Needham, a general contracting company he established specializing in commercial and multi-family projects. He has extensive hands-on, supervisory and managerial experience in all construction methods: wood frame, steel and masonry, mass concrete, site and utility construction. Bill received a B.S. in Business Management from Suffolk University and a M.S. in Real Estate and Construction Management from the University of Denver. He is also a licensed real estate broker and construction supervisor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Iris Werbalowsky Barten, LMFT:
Iris has thirty years of experience as a skilled counselor and therapist working with people who are living with challenging physical and emotional issues, complex medical needs, and developmental disabilities. Her work with seniors has spanned her entire career. Iris was the Director of the Lynn Day Activity Center, a Social Worker and Unit Manager at the Perkins School for the Blind. She has also served as the Special Projects Coordinator of the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association. She has a part-time practice as a counselor and consultant focusing on Life Cycles, Transitions, Loss, and Renewal. She consults with non-profit organizations regarding Team Building, Working More Effectively with Families, and Change. Iris graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Oneonta with a B.A. degree in Psychology and Sociology. She has a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Lesley College and is a licensed social worker and counselor. She is an active volunteer and member of Hadassah as well as a member of the Deaconess Development Committee

Glenn D. Burlamachi:
Glenn is a licensed funeral director and purchased the MacRae-Tunnicliffe Concord Funeral Home in Concord in 2004 which he operates with his wife, Beth. He earned a B.S. Degree in Accounting and Business Management from Green Mt. College and an A.S. Degree from FINE Mortuary College where he continues to teach business and accounting. Prior to attending FINE Mortuary College, Glenn owned an electrical contracting business and a national lighting supply company for twelve years.

Fabian Fondriest:
Fabian is the Chief Executive Officer of Homesite Group Inc., and of the Homesite insurance companies, a homeowners insurance company. Prior to joining Homsite in 1999, Fabian was the Chief Marketing Officer of Chubb Insurance. At Chubb he was a Managing Director and Senior Vice President, and also a member of Chubb’s eight-person Operating Committee.  His previous roles at Chubb included Manager of the London/Lloyd’s Branch in the U.K, and Assistant to the Chairman of Chubb Europe, with responsibility for European Information Technology and Customer Service. Fabian has a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, where he graduated as a George F. Baker Scholar.  He has a B.A., magna cum laude, in Economics from Harvard College. He resides in Concord with his wife and three children where he is a member of the Concord-Carlisle Regional School Committee and a member of the Development Committee of Regis High School in NYC.

Mary Fraser:
Mary earned a B.S. degree in Sociology from Virginia Union University, Richmond, Virginia with additional course work and seminars in human resources management at Bentley College, Waltham, MA.  She worked for five years in Washington, DC as Office Administrator, Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church. Following relocation to Lexington, she worked part-time for nine years as Secretary and Office Administrator at the Lexington United Methodist Church. In 1980, Mary began a 20-year career in the field of Human Resources in educational publishing at DC Heath and Company, Lexington, MA, and Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA.  During this time she held positions of Benefits Coordinator, Employment Manager, Human Resources Administrator and Human Resources Manager.   She is Chairperson of Staff Parish Relations Committee at Lexington United Methodist Church and a member of the District Committee on Ordained Ministry, Boston-Metro West District of the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Phyllis Rogde Gleason:
Phyllis received a BA in Philosophy and Religion from Wheaton College in Norton and a M ED in Early Childhood/Curriculum and Development from Lesley University. She has taught pre-school, kindergarten and elementary grade students as well as being an at-home teacher. Phyllis has held leadership roles in The Winton Club, The EnKaSociety, The Vincent Club and the Duxbury Yacht Club. She has been married to her husband Paul for 41 years and is the mother of two sons and the grandmother of two grandsons.

George K. Haller:
George grew up in West Boylston, MA. and graduated from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture in 1953. He has been married to Virginia for 44 years and has three children and seven grandchildren. George worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Department of Mental Health for 38 years in various positions, including Head Farmer, Facility Director and Fiscal Director. In retirement, George is a self-employed painter and carpenter, and hobbies include fishing, gardening, and garden railroading.

Oscar W. Harrell, II, Ph.D.:
Oscar graduated from Virginia Union University with an A.B. in Social Science and was drafted into the U.S. Army for two years (19 months in Fort Bragg, NC as an E-5 in Military Intelligence).  After discharge, Oscar served for a year and a half as Head Counselor at the Leonard Training School for the North Carolina Department of Corrections.  He relocated to Cambridge with his wife, Sophia, and young sons to attend graduate school.  Oscar earned an M.A. from Assumption College, a C.A.G.S., and a Ph.D. from Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management. He also did post graduate study in education at UMass Amherst. Currently Oscar is involved in private consulting in fields of Human Relations, Policy Analysis, Management, and Diversity Training, lectures and conducts drama presentations, facilitates individual, group and educational counseling. He has worked with many colleges and universities in the United Methodist Church in Sudbury and the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church as well as many mental health and social welfare organizations and committees.

Earl H. Hutt: 
A life-long resident of the town of Westborough, MA, Earl earned a B.S. Degree in Pharmacy from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and is a Corporator of Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Sciences. He is the past President and owner of Winchester Drug Company and served in the US Navy Medical Corp. as a Pharmacist during WWII.  He then earned an MBA from Northeastern University and is a Massachusetts Notary Public. Earl has served as: Board of Directors and Treasurer of Bay State Abrasive Products Company, Treasurer of Alden Self-Transit Systems Corporation, Board of Directors Integrated Systems Technology, Inc., President and Treasurer of Westborough Realty Corporation, Treasurer of American Society of Insurance Management, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Worcester Area American Heart Association, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bridge, a halfway home for Boys, Chairman Town of Westborough  Finance and Advisory Committee, Commissioner of Trust Funds of Town of Westborough, Member of Westborough Area YWCA Advisory Council, Chairman Audit Committee Westborough Financial Services Inc. and Westborough Bank, and a Member  of the Board of Directors and Corporator of Westborough Bank. Earl is an active member of his local United Methodist Church and has served for 33 years as Lay Member to the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, has been President of its Council of Finance and Administration for 10 years, a member of numerous committees.

Robert Johnston:
Bob graduated from Wentworth Institute and Boston University. He served in the U. S. Marine Corps and was a member of the U.S. Troops in Iwo Jima. His career was in the elevator business. He has been a long time active member in the Somerville College Avenue United Methodist Church serving in many leadership positions. He is also active in the Masons and is on the Board of the Charlton Masonic Home.

Phyllis S. Maurer:
Phyllis graduated from the American Institute of Banking and was the A.V.P. and Branch Administrator of the Hudson National Bank, retiring in 1975 She is married to Bruce D. Maurer of Concord and have two girls, ages 25 and 27 (their children are 5th generation Concordians) and two grandsons. Phyllis continued working for the family business, “The Frank Maurer Co., Inc. (earth moving, development and landscape design and installation) which has been in business since 1953. In the 1980’s the company grew to include custom home building. Phyllis has been a realtor in the Concord area since then and is currently employed at the Carlson GMAC Real Estate as a broker and focuses on the wide Metro West area real estate market. She is a member of the Concord Lions Club, President elect of the Rotary Club of Concord, MA, Advisory board member of the Concord Recreation Dept.’s annual Golf Tournament, Past President of the Quota Club of Concord (women’s professional organization), and Past President of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board Council.

Rev. Robert A. Moore:
A native of Massachusetts and a third generation pastor in the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church, Bob is a graduate of Boston University School of Theology and has served churches in East Greenwich, RI; Saugus, MA; Williamstown, MA; Plymouth, MA; Providence, RI; and Niantic, CT. Through his family history, he has a deep connection with and appreciation for the elder ministries of the Conference. With his appointment to St. Matthew’s UMC in Acton, he continues to be an active participant of the New England Deaconess Association.

Sharon E. Spaulding:
Sharon is currently the President of Spaulding Management Corporation in Concord, a commercial real estate company specializing in development, historic restoration and commercial property development. Sharon is a member of the Rotary Club of Concord and is on the Board of Overseers of the Concord-Carlisle Community Chest. She is also on the Board of the Lexington Chamber and Lexington Historical Society. Sharon earned a BA in Psychology from UMass Amherst. She grew up in Concord and currently resides in Belmont.

Mary E. White-Scharf, Ph.D.:
Mary is a member of Crawford Memorial United Methodist Church in Winchester, MA, where she serves on the Board of Trustees.  A native of Texas, she holds a B.S. from Southern Methodist University (where she met her husband Brad), an M.A. from the University of Texas, and a Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology and Immunology from Stanford University School of Medicine.  She has worked both in academics and industry, most recently as Sr. Vice President of Research for a small biotech company in the Boston area.  She retired several years ago in order to spend more time pursuing her interests in music.  She plays jazz piano with the group “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” is substitute organist at the church, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Winchester Community Music School.  She and Brad have three children, the youngest of whom is a senior in high school.

Rev. William A. Campbell

Nancy E. Carr

David S. Chick

William F. Burt:
A native of Newton, MA., and current resident of Lincoln, Bill graduated from Tufts Engineering School with a B.S. Degree in Electrical Engineering having attended college on the Navy V-12 program during W.W.II. After active duty on the West coast, Bill began employment at New England Gas and Electric System as a Junior Engineer and held a number of positions, including Chief Electrical Engineer and VP of Operations, retiring in 1989 (after 42 years of service) as Assistant to the CEO from the same company, then called Commonwealth Energy System.  During those years, Bill also remained active in the Naval Reserve, retiring after 20 years as Lieutenant Commander. He was active in the Cambridge Chapter of the American Red Cross, serving as its Chairman from 1971 to 1973, was Chairman of the Lincoln Cub Pack Committee and Boy Scout Troop Committee. Bill as one of the founding members of the Lexington United Methodist Church, serving as Receiving Treasurer, Lay Leader, and Chairman of the Building Committee. He has been active in the Weston United Methodist Church, serving as Chairman of the Finance Committee and Chairman of the board of Trustees and has been a member of the NEDA Board of Directors since 1996 and served as its Clerk.

Dr. Shephard S. Johnson: A retired United Methodist Pastor who has served churches in Byfield, Saugus, Wakefield, Sudbury, and Weston, Massachusetts, as well as Manchester, Connecticut.  Prior to entering the ministry, was a security analyst and real estate advisor for Connecticut General Insurance Co.  Holds B.A., M.B.A., S.T.M., and Ph.D. degrees.  Also, a retired Navy officer, serving in both the Supply and Chaplain Corps.  He and his wife, Nancy, live on Peaks Island, Maine.

William L. Owens

Lester C. Peabody

Rev. Ned C. Watts, Jr.: Born in North Carolina, grew up in East Tennessee, attended prep school in Chattanooga, TN, and both college and seminary at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.  Came to Boston University for additional graduate school, fell in love with a New Englander and with New England.  Began pastoral ministry in 1963 as founding pastor of Aldersgate UMC in Chelmsford.  After 13 years was appointed to Weston UMC.  Then was invited to serve on the Board at Deaconess where I have served for 25 years.  After only four years in Weston, was appointed Senior Pastor of Wesley UMC in Worcester, MA, serving for eleven years, and then to First UMC in Westbor-ough, MA.  After eleven years there, was appointed District Superintendent of the Rhode Island-Southeastern Massachusetts District of the New England Conference from which will retire this year at Annual Conference.  Beloved wife, Elizabeth, died in May, 2000.